New Ulm weekly review., 1887-08-24

r
ling cheek, but. reading confirmation
IN the faces before her, she drops
hastily the precious bug. flashes an
angry glance at the owner OF that
name. and turning runs swiftly into
| the woods.
What have I done? Who is shes''
he asks, with perplexing look.
eWhy, it's our Bess, and she knows
you hate girls, and won't want her
here. How did you happen to come?
Thought you were sick! questioned
the boys altogether.
So I was. but / am better; only I
lost myself IN this maze and nearly
tramped myself to death-ifi it hadn't
been for her coffee, = he continues.
awkwardly. How could hate to
have her here?'' he adds so enthusi-
astically that Hal retires suddenly
| behind the house and remarks, ssWell,
| I'll be b blestP' to his boots.
How can, the days that follow be
described? Golden, sunshiny days,
filled with simple pleasures. But, as
a reliable chronlcler, am very sorry
that Icannot say Miss Fleming's tenn
! per was all serene. Towards the un-
offending Valentine she bore an enmity
that neither time nor familiarity
seem to soften. Occasionally she
would unbend so far as to allow that
gentleman to assist in her investiga-
tions into the fora of the re gion OF
the country in which they were
Can you guess what revelation.
this sweet, tantalizing girl was to a
young man who had never known a.
woman'slove? Day after day to watch
her merry petting Of those big broth
ers, and then to recall his lonely child
hood and youth. Is not the fate Of
this poor Val easily surmised?
Tramping alone by the river side,
Val at last discovers and acknow-
ledges to himself the cause of the
vague wretchedness of the past weeks
acknowledges withsa sickening re-
alization that his happiness for life
is in the hands of a girl who has
only an unreasoning hatred, or at
best a supreme Indifference, to give
him; and he grinds his boot-heel into
the soft turf as hegoes slowly towards
the camp.
A sudden turn around a camp of
fringe-hung birches, and Mr.. Graham
beholds a spectacle which drives away
from him all thoughts OF his own
troubles.
Upon a gnarly old tree, leaning far
out over the river, sits Miss Bess,
plainly disconsolate. In the pool be-
low her hat is slowly sailing around
like agondola q OF new design. At the
sound Of footsteps she raises her head,
but as her eyes meet his the welcom-
ing gleam OF hope in them gives way to
q flash of ire, and she says petulant-
ly:
| ooh, hoped you were steenie.''
! I'm sorry" he says gently, s'tut
Steenie would not help you more glad
ly than Iwould were it in my power"
After a pause, during which the
girls tears puzzled him, he continu d
| quietly:
.'Let us go home to the boys and
our camp.f fire. It is getting late.
You will take cold there; and you
have lost your hat too.':
ssNot at all, !" returns Bess. II am.
only leaving it there till come own.
am waiting for the sunset but you
need not wait too"
But should like to-"
A long pause ensues. Miss Fleming
apparently gives rapt attention to
some soft, fluffy little clouds flushed
to a ose-pink by the setting. Mr..
Graham as intently gives his whole
mind, aided by his good right arm, to
the recovery Of the truant hat, which
eludes his impromptu fishing pole
with an agility which seems to prove
it ndowed with the spirit Of it's owner.
81 wish you would come down now,"
he breaks forth, landing as he speaks
his dripping and somewhat dilapidat-
ed prize. s.Youdon't look comfortable
| up there"
"Well, I'm not,' she replied, with
unIooked-for energy and a hysterical
mlngling OF tears and laughter. ",Ti e
| branch that helped me up mere broi
Oft, and then hoated down the river.
Every time have tried to get down
have nearly pitched into the water, so
I have sat here for hours like agraven
| image, and my two feet fast asleep.
I'd have jumped in long ago before
you found me sittiug here like an
idiot" she concludes vehemently,
"only it looks so deep down there
AS she finishes he has found a firm
footing among the roots OF her tree,
and with gravity which causes Bess
to regard him with suspicion says in
business-like way:
..If you will lean forward a trifle I
will place you on terra frma and we
will co.
But Miss Fleming has resumed her
contemplation OF the sky, without
glancing at him says wilfully:
Il told YOU before that / intended
to stay here to see the sunset. You
are evidently in haste; you may go.
But be sure and tell Steenie want
him. = 5
Valentines arms fall, his face whit.
ems, and his voice rings with passion
ate anger:
$50 I may not even touch your
hand, and l would give my life for
you! You have nothing bnt undeserv-
n L~.. L. - = = y y {